Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-02-12

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energy and spirit had died out of her.
One delicious afternoon in May found
Desiree lie Strange III u house in Har-
ley street, listlessly turning the leaves
Of the leather-bound books which told
how governcssos were wanted, very
highly accomplished, for very small
salaries.
"a steady, conscientious lady;" she
read. presently, fond of the country
and quiet life. wanted for two delicate
girls Of six. Apply Lady Vessels,
Cranforth Grange, WORCESTERSHIRE"
..Wesscls! Wesscls!' murmured De-
%sireee; ''any relation l wonder, TO the
Daniel Vessels l once knew" and she
at once made up her mind to try for
the situation.
Cranforth Grange Was a nany-gabled
granite-blocked mansion, standing on r.
slightly wooded emiucnce in a richlN
timbered, undulating park. The ave-
nue. which led up from tho main road
was n good mile long and shaded by
tall beech trees meeting in an arch
overhead. and winding through the
ground, now flashing in the sunlight.
now hiding amidst the shadows Of tho
dropping silver willows, flowed the
beautiful Pinkthornc river borderod
with plumy ferns and tangled briers.
with here and there n clnmp of brill
liant rhododcndrons.
The wild ducks loved their river.
ana the swans seemed never weary of
sailing on its surface; yellow water
lilies fioated like miniature islands here
and there, and the prettiest rustic
bridges spanned it in parts where the
waters were tolcrably narrow. At tho
far end, under the thickcst shades of
the willows, nestled IN Old boat house,
al creeper-smothered and rush-senti-
nellcd.
1t was a gala day for the whole win
lage--a day of rcjoicing-when Judge
Vessels came home to Cranforth
Grange. The bells rang merrily, the
banners waved TO and fro Welcome,
Welcome" in the soft spring breeze,
and now the carriage dashed up the
long beech avenue, and presently
in u twinkling it seemed, the chill
drcn were springing into their fathers
arms and smotherirg him with kisses.
Kindly. generously. the years had
dealt with Daniel Vessels; perfectly
happy. too, be looked to-day, with tho
arms Of his fair-haircd twins twincd
about his neck and his left hand rest
ing on his wife's shoulder. Desiree,
in the background, watched the Joy
Gus meeting between usband and wife.
father and children, and felt Il choky
sensation rise in her throat, an old,
sharp, sickening pain seize her heart.
almost taking her breath away, and
prayed that she might not faint-that
she might not "make a scene"
Miss lie Strange, g~overness,'
said Lady Vessels, presently.
And then-oh. how like n dream il
seemed, meeting the bearded face ana
shaking the large, firm hand of Sir
Daniel Vessels.
A minute more and the Judge with
his wife and children, was in the IL
brary, where a CHEEKY log fire blazed
and Desiree found herself mounting the
wide oak stair case to her solitary
school room. But for her own folly,
she told herself, she might have been
queen of this house to-day. How an
bearablc the thought was how mad
dening
For n whole year sho had "strivcn to
do her duty, and had learned to love
pretty, gentle Lady vessels, his wife;
but she could not meet the judge every
day and not bctray herself not let him
and others see how accurately she felt
her position. True, be had not ap-
peared to recognize her; but sooner or
later he would surely discover that
Desiree lie Strange, who flung back
his love ono autumn eve years ago.
and the DcSirce lie Strange Of to-day
were the same. Chance had brought
her here under his roof. ~Supposing
by chance she died tonight, who
would miss her?
And then, mechanically, almost like
one forced 10 act in spite of herself.
she crossed the room ADD unlocked the
little medicine chest which stood on u
s%ideboard. Her eye ran over the bot
ties and boxes and china pots.
1t was = very small bottle she y.
! last took up, labelled ''Chloroform.''
: II nave u bad toothachc and head
ache" she murmured. with an odd
smile. perhaps this will make mo
sleep"
''Her WI enemy, even TO the last"
thought the judoc. LOOKING at Dcsirc.0
LIE Strange's beautiful dead face with
q shadow on his own.
For the features which had not struck
him yesterday in life spoke plainly
enough in death-told him pathetically,
better than u thousand words, that this
was the Desiree he nd once lnueL-